What Are Free Things To Do in Columbus, Ohio?

You can fill a day here without spending a dollar. Walk the Scioto Mile riverfront and connected greenway trails, explore city and Metro Parks, step into free-admission museums on the Ohio State campus, and tour the Ohio Statehouse at no cost. On Sundays, the Columbus Museum of Art offers free general admission.

Outdoors is the easy win. The Scioto Mile’s parks, promenades and fountains are public and free, and the downtown Scioto Trail links them for a stroll or bike ride. For gardens, the Columbus Park of Roses posts “no admission fee,” and the Topiary Garden at Deaf School Park is open to the public for a unique walk among the living sculptures.

If you want free museums, start on campus. The Wexner Center for the Arts offers free gallery admission during regular hours, the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum is free to visit, and the Orton Geological Museum welcomes walk-ins at no charge. In addition, the Columbus Museum of Art waives general admission on Sundays, which is a straightforward way to add a no-cost stop downtown.

For a civic stop, the Ohio Statehouse welcomes visitors with free guided tours and free-to-enter public spaces on Capitol Square. Pair it with a self-led look at the monuments on the grounds and views up Broad and High.

Seasonal hours, fountain operations, and tour schedules change; check the venue’s official page or the relevant city or park department site the day you go.

Published: September 9, 2026 · Reviewed by the Whats Up Columbus editorial team